We live in a world where everything is designed to be faster, easier, and more automated. We order groceries without speaking to a clerk. We message colleagues without ever looking them in the eye. And more and more, we move through our days without noticing the people who hold us up along the way.
Today’s episode is about noticing.
Levi Spires has given over fourteen thousand rides as an Uber driver. But what’s striking isn’t the miles he’s logged—it’s the humanity he’s witnessed. For a few minutes at a time, his car becomes a rare space where people lower their guard. A place where someone can unburden, confess, or simply sit in silence without judgment.
Levi reminds us that in an era obsessed with efficiency, it’s these small, inefficient human moments that matter most.
This conversation is a challenge: to move differently in a world already saturated with automation and disconnection. To choose presence over convenience. To remember that being human isn’t about how quickly we get from A to B—it’s about who we see along the way.
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We live in a world where everything is designed to be faster, easier, and more automated. We order groceries without speaking to a clerk. We message colleagues without ever looking them in the eye. And more and more, we move through our days without noticing the people who hold us up along the way.
Today’s episode is about noticing.
Levi Spires has given over fourteen thousand rides as an Uber driver. But what’s striking isn’t the miles he’s logged—it’s the humanity he’s witnessed. For a few minutes at a time, his car becomes a rare space where people lower their guard. A place where someone can unburden, confess, or simply sit in silence without judgment.
Levi reminds us that in an era obsessed with efficiency, it’s these small, inefficient human moments that matter most.
This conversation is a challenge: to move differently in a world already saturated with automation and disconnection. To choose presence over convenience. To remember that being human isn’t about how quickly we get from A to B—it’s about who we see along the way.
Today’s guest knows what it means to lead when the stakes are high. Nate Amidon spent 15 years guiding people and programs across the U.S. Air Force, Microsoft, Boeing, and Alaska Airlines. He’s an Air Force C-17 evaluator pilot with more than 3,200 flight hours—including 800 in combat—and over 1,500 hours as an instructor teaching young pilots how to fly, make decisions under pressure, and lead crews on global missions.
When he transitioned from active duty, Nate brought that same discipline into technology—consulting as a Project Manager, Scrum Master, and Scaled Agile Framework coach on enterprise software programs. He went on to found Form100 Consulting, where he helps clients apply military-tested leadership practices to build strong, high-performing teams that endure.
In our conversation, Nate and I talked about how hard that transition actually was. Even with a degree from the Air Force Academy and an MBA, landing his first role at Microsoft wasn’t simple—and it showed him how untapped the veteran talent pool really is. That frustration was the spark for Form100, where he now connects veterans with organizations desperate for alignment, communication, and trust.
We also dug into why veterans are uniquely equipped for tech: they’re trained to see the whole mission, not just their own slice. They know how to drive clarity in chaos, how to align teams across silos, and how to solve problems with urgency but also with care. Nate reminded us that in technology, speed without alignment is just drift. Veterans bring the perspective to check the vector, build relationships, and keep the team moving in the right direction.
Nate holds a Management degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an MBA from the University of Nebraska, and certifications spanning PMP, CSM, SPC, Lean Six Sigma, and DevOps. He also continues to serve as a reservist C-17 pilot with the 313th Airlift Squadron.
Coffee & Change
We live in a world where everything is designed to be faster, easier, and more automated. We order groceries without speaking to a clerk. We message colleagues without ever looking them in the eye. And more and more, we move through our days without noticing the people who hold us up along the way.
Today’s episode is about noticing.
Levi Spires has given over fourteen thousand rides as an Uber driver. But what’s striking isn’t the miles he’s logged—it’s the humanity he’s witnessed. For a few minutes at a time, his car becomes a rare space where people lower their guard. A place where someone can unburden, confess, or simply sit in silence without judgment.
Levi reminds us that in an era obsessed with efficiency, it’s these small, inefficient human moments that matter most.
This conversation is a challenge: to move differently in a world already saturated with automation and disconnection. To choose presence over convenience. To remember that being human isn’t about how quickly we get from A to B—it’s about who we see along the way.
